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' 'As an experiment, nine selected playgrounds were opened for
roller skating for two evenings per week during the summer term.
Visits to these centres indicated that, after the first fortnight, few
children used these playgrounds. The skaters were confined chiefly
to the 10-12 age groups, and very few remained after 8 p.m.
"Out-of-School Activities.—Close contact has been maintained
with the enthusiastic body of teachers responsible for the
very efficient and valuable work of the Walthamstow Schools'
Athletic, Cricket, Football and Swimming Associations.
"Physical Training and Games for Adolescents and
Adults.—Two additional Keep-Fit classes for women and girls,
making a total of twelve, were held, with an average attendance of
25 throughout the season.
"Physical Education in the Reception Areas.—(Note: On
the outbreak of war Miss C. M. Hawkes was seconded for full-time
emergency duties with the Barking Education Committee, whilst
Mr. Last remained at the disposal of Mr. Burnell, and was sent to
Bedford.)
"Urgent administrative and billeting problems occupied the
whole of thq stay in Bedford, with the exception of one week prior
to recall to Walthamstow on October 12th. It is obvious, for the
following reasons, that we must be prepared to accept some deterioration
of the normal standard in Physical Education:—
"(a) Lack of adequate facilities, principally in the provision
of suitable playground space and indoor accommodation.
Many of the playgrounds in the rural areas are small and
badly surfaced, rendering the use of suitable shoes (if any)
impossible, except under specially favourable conditions.
"(b) Inability, owing to lack of accommodation, apparatus and
specialist teachers, to develop suitable progressive work
for senior children.
"(c) The breakdown of the specialist system. Many teachers
who, by reason of age or health, have lost touch with
modern Physical Education are now called upon to take
their own classes, and it is obvious that such teachers
require much help.
"Supplies of essential physical training and games apparatus
were despatched to all schools as soon as possible after evacuation.
The five weeks of exceptionally fine weather which followed immediately
upon evacuation allowed full scope for outdoor pursuits,
and change of air and diet, together with the curtailment of the
number of hours spent sitting in classrooms, all combined to
produce an immediate and marked improvement in the health and
physique of the majority of the children.